Windstream chief earns $7.07 million
Jeff Gardner, president and chief executive officer of Windstream Holdings Inc., earned about $7.07 million in 2013, the Little Rock-based company reported Friday in its proxy statement.
Gardner made $1 million in salary, about $969,400 in incentive plan compensation, about $5.01 million in stock and option awards, and $90,840 in other compensation.
Total compensation for Windstream executives in 2013 in round figures were: Anthony Thomas, chief financial officer, about $2.12 million; Brent Whittington, chief operating officer, about $2.77 million; John Fletcher, executive vice president, secretary and general counsel, about $2.12 million; J.David Works, executive vice president and chief human resources officer, about $1.29 million.
Windstream said it will have its annual shareholder’s meeting at 11 a.m. May 7 at the Capital Hotel in Little Rock.
- Jessica Seaman
Mid-South acquires Hightower Oil assets
Mid-South Sales of Jonesboro has purchased assets belonging to Hightower Oil Co. of Plumerville for an undisclosed amount, Hightower said this week in a news release.
A petroleum and lubricant company, Mid-South Sales has also executed a lease agreement related to lube and fuel services belonging to Hightower Oil, according to the release.
“We are proud of the service we have provided our customers through Hightower Oil Co. these many years and appreciate the relationships we have built during our time in this business,” Hightower President Kenny Shipp said. “However, the competitive environment in the fuel and lubricant business is evolving, and we feel this is the right choice for our business moving forward.”
Ten of Hightower Oil’s employees will stay with the company, said Murray Benton, president of Mid-South Sales.
The agreement will give Mid-South Sales, which also operates in Conway and Morrilton, its eighth location in Arkansas.
- Jessica Seaman
Arkansas Index rises 1.98 to end 335.04
The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, rose 1.98 to 335.04 Friday.
Twelve stocks in the index advanced, four declined and one was unchanged.
Shares of America’s Car-Mart had the best day, climbing 1.7 percent in light trading.
Dillard’s rose 1.6 percent on low volume.
First Federal Bancshares fell 1.7 percent on below average volume.
For the week, all but four stocks gained ground.
P.A.M. Transportation jumped 11.9 percent for the week.
Arkansas Best was up 11.8 percent for the week.
The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.
Business, Pages 29 on 03/08/2014